2009 Four Wheeler Of The Year - 2009 4x4 SUV Test
Five New Suvs Take It To The Trail
By Sean P. Holman, Photography by Greg P. Smith, Ken Brubaker
| GENERAL |
| Vehicle/model | '09 Kia Borrego EX | '09 Lexus LX 570 | '09 Nissan Xterra Off-Road | '09 Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport | '09 Toyota Sequoia Platinum |
| STEERING |
| Type | Power rack-and-pinion | Variable ratio, power rack-and-pinion | Power rack-and-pinion | Power rack-and-pinion | Variable Flow Control power rack-and-pinion |
| Turns (lock-to-lock) | 3.5 | Variable, 2.4 to 3.4 | 3.54 | 2.7 | 3.71 |
| Ratio | 17.97:1 | 16.6 to 20.7:1 | 20.4:1 | 14.0:1 | 17:3:1 |
| BRAKES |
| Front | 12.9-in. vented disc, dual-piston calipers | 13.4 x 1.26-in.vented disc, four-piston calipers | 11.65 x 1.1-in. vented disc, dual-piston calipers | 11.6-in. vented disc, single-piston calipers | 13.9-in. vented disc, four-piston calipers |
| Rear | 12.8-in. solid discs, single-piston calipers | 13.6 x 0.71-in. vented disc, single-piston calipers | 11.3 x 0.71-in. vented disc, single-piston calipers | 12.1-in. vented disc, single-piston calipers | 13.6-in. vented disc, single-piston calipers |
| ABS | Four-wheel | Four-wheel | Four-wheel | Four-wheel | Four-wheel |
| WHEELS/TIRES |
| Wheels (in) | 18x7.5 | 20x8.5 chrome | 16x7 | 18x7 | 20x7.5 |
| Tires | P265/60R18 Hankook Radial RA07 | P285/50R20 Michelin Latitude Tour HP | P265/75R16 BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A | P225/60R18 Dunlop AT20 Grandtrek | P275/55R20 Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza |
| FUEL ECONOMY |
| EPA city/highway | 15/20 | 12/18 | 17/22 | 15/21 | 13/18 |
| Observed city/highway/trail | 14.73 | 12.7 | 14.84 | 17.96 | 13.61 |
| DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES |
| Weight (lb) | 4,621 | 5,995 | 4,402 | 3,876 | 6,000 |
| Wheelbase (in) | 114.0 | 112.2 | 106.3 | 103.9 | 122.0 |
| Overall length (in) | 192.1 | 196.5 | 178.7 | 177.1 | 205.1 |
| Overall width (in) | 75.4 | 77.6 | 72.8 | 71.3 | 79.9 |
| Height (in) | 71.3 | 75.6 | 74.9 | 66.7 | 77.0 |
| Track f/r (in) | 63.6/64.0 | 64.6/64.4 | 61.8/61.8 | 60.6/61.4 | 67.9./69.1 |
| Minimum ground clearance (in) | 8.5 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 7.9 | 9.6 |
| Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft) | 36.48 | 38.7 | 37.3 | 36.7 | 39.0 |
| Approach/departure angles (deg) | 27.3/22.5 | 29.0/20.0 "Normal" setting, 31.0/23.0 "High" setting | 33.2/29.4 | 29/27 | 27/21 |
| Breakover angle (deg) | n/a | 23.0 "Normal" setting, 27.0 "High" setting | 23.9 | 19 | n/a |
| GVWR (lb) | 6173 | 7,275 | 5,400 | 4,784 | 7,300 |
| Payload (lb) | 1,264-1,552 | 1,270 | 1,046 | 871 | 1,235 |
| Maximum towing capacity (lb) | 7,500 | 8,500 | 5,000 | 3,000 | 8,800 |
| Seating | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Fuel capacity (gal) | 20.6 | 24.6 | 21.1 | 17.4 | 26.4 |
| PERFORMANCE |
| 0-60 mph (sec) | 7.75 | 7.14 | 8.02 | 9.40 | 7.56 |
| Quarter-mile (sec @ mph) | 15.97 @ 86.32 | 15.42 @ 89.29 | 16.11 @ 85.10 | 16.95 @ 80.22 | 15.74 @ 89.76 |
| Braking 60-0 mph (ft) | 133.29 | 137.5 | 141.67 | 138.42 | 145.39 |
| Ramp Travel Index | 316 | 538 | 486 | 374 | 400 |
By Sean P. Holman
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